The Maleficent Seven

by Cameron Johnston

Overview

When you are all out of heroes, all that's left are the villains.

Black Herran was a dread demonologist, and the most ruthless general in all Essoran. She assembled the six most fearsome warriors to captain her armies: a necromancer, a vampire lord, a demigod, an orcish warleader, a pirate queen, and a twisted alchemist. Together they brought the whole continent to its knees... Until the day she abandoned her army, on the eve of total victory.

40 years later, she must bring her former captains back together for one final stand, in the small town of Tarnbrooke - the last bastion against a fanatical new enemy tearing through the land, intent on finishing the job Black Herran started years before.

Seven bloodthirsty monsters. One town. Their last hope.

File Under: Fantasy [ Heroes or Horrors? | Flames and Faith | Blood and Guts | Hell Demons ]

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780857669087
Publisher:	Watkins Media
Publication date:	08/10/2021
Pages:	420
Sales rank:	184,689
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Cameron Johnston is the British Fantasy Award and Dragon Awards nominated author of dark fantasy novels The Traitor God and God of Broken Things. He is a swordsman, a gamer, and an enthusiast of archaeology, history and mythology. He loves exploring ancient sites and camping out under the stars by a roaring fire.

Editorial Reviews

04/05/2021

Unlikely allies confront an army of holy knights in this fast-paced if uneven fantasy adventure from Johnston (God of Broken Things). In the land of Essoran, demonologist Black Herran was once a fearsome general—until she abandoned her armies on the cusp of victory. Forty years later, she must reunite her old comrades—among them Maeven, a necromancer, and Tiarnach, the former god of war—to face down a new enemy. Though each member of the memorable ensemble holds a grudge against Black Herran, they each agree to join her, seeking personal gain. Together, they must defend the militarized peasant town of Tarnbrooke against the invading armies of the Lucent Empire. There’s never a lull in the action, and the mismatched group provides plenty of fun, with high tension and biting arguments between the over-the-top characters keeping the pages turning. Unfortunately, classic fantasy creatures like orcs and vampires feel slightly out of place in Johnston’s world, and the frequent mistreatment of female characters keeps this brutal tale from reaching its potential. Regardless, fans of grimdark fantasy will find plenty to enjoy. Agent: Ed Wilson, Johnson & Alcock. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

There’s never a lull in the action, and the mismatched group provides plenty of fun, with high tension and biting arguments between the over-the-top characters keeping the pages turning… fans of grimdark fantasy will find plenty to enjoy.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Coarse, crude, bloody, brutal, and utterly over-the-top . . . A go-big-or-go-home delight.”
—Locus

“Fans of dark fantasy that enjoy gallows humor alongside over-the-top blood and gore action will find this group of misfits perfectly awful.”
—Booklist

“A fun, thrilling, and bloody novel filled with interesting characters and a unique world . . . You’ll be begging for more of Black Herran and the gang.”
—Grimdark Magazine

"Like Kings of the Wyld smooshed together with Suicide Squad into a glorious, gory, sweary melee.”
—Rob J Hayes, author of The Ties that Bind series

“A fun romp of a novel. Recommended.”
—SFF World

“Like Joe Abercrombie was persuaded to write a Warhammer novel. It's dark and often brutal, but with a vein of intelligent playfulness running through . . . Cameron Johnston remains wickedly inventive . . . Soaring and magical, yet somehow very human and accessible.”
—SFX

“Johnston has flipped the magnificent seven samurai trope on its head in this snarky romp of a tale. Packed with heart and humour, The Maleficent Seven is dark, bloody, and the most fun I’ve had in ages.”
—Devin Madson, author of We Ride the Storm

From the Publisher